Package wrapping machine



Nov..l 14, 1944. c; E. HINCHEY PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 28, 1942 .NNMRMH 4 5i... HE. i .P lill! (lill. 21.3.12!

Nov. 14, 1944. lc. E; HlNcHEY 2,362,819

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2s; "1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov.I 14,1944.

c. E. HlNcHEY PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1942 v4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r Patented Nov. 14, 1944 y UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE 2,362,819 n PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE vClaude E. Hinchey, Weyauwega, Wis. Application January 28, 1942, Serial No. 128,526

This invention relates to improvements in package wrapping machines.

In the packaging of certain commodities it is customary to apply neat wrappers to. uniform piles of the goods with the seams and flaps of a folded wrapper, after it is applied, being sealed or adhered in closed positions, and with one of the sealed naps enclosing alength of opening' tape or twine. Heretofore, for the sealed packaging of certain types of merchandise, because of the many complex operations requiredto ob- -tain proper folded', overlapped and adhered flaps in the package wrapper, the wrapping was done by hand, making the same relatively slow and expensive.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a machine for automatically folding and adhering a wrapper sheet about a bulky object or stack of uniform goods, while applying vwithin one of the sealed flaps a tape which Awhen pulled severs and opens one side of the package. I 4

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically folding the end flaps of waxed sheets applied to packages, and heating the flap and seam portions of the applied `wrappers to cause adhesion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described wherein Aadhesion of desired lportions of a wrapper is caused by thermostatically controlled heating irons applied Ato an advancing wrapped package at different stations, together with vmeans-for automatically applying the irons to andremov ing the same from the package wrappers.

A further object of the-invention is to provide a 'package wrapping machine-which is readily adjustable in order to handle packagesand wrappers of various sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide4 a package wrapping machine in which successive wrapper folding and' sealingv operations are performed at successively advanced stations to which the packages are delivered b y a conveyor arranged for intermittent or stepped movements.

A further object of the invention is vto provide a package wrapping machine including a. novel clutch mechanism for controlling the movement and operations of/certain elements at the desired vtimes and in a Ipredetermined sequence. A further object of the invention is to provide a package wrapping machine which isleiilcient, economical, and expeditious in operation, which is' strong and durable, whichv canzbe manipulated and controlled by a. single operator, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

' With the above and other objects inview the invention consists of the improved package wrapping machine, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. I

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved package wrapping machine; Y

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig.3 is a, fragmentary, transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3.-3 of Fig. 2 and on a larger scale and with additional portions'bro ken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse vertical sectional view taken on line I-4 of Fia;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 only showing some of the movable elements in different posi.

tional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 with the tape cutting scissors in closed condition;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 only with the Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of the driving 3'5 mechanism and arrangement for the machine;

and

Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive illustrate, on a smaller scale, a wrapper applied package during the various stages of the operation of the improved machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that the improved package wrapping machine is incorporated in a convenient tablelike structurel which includes a relatively elongated, flat, horizontal table-top I8 suitably elevated by means of end .cornersupporting legs I9 and intermediate legs 20. Imme diately adjacent the under side of the table I8 are suitably mounted transverse revoluble shafts 2| and 22. There are fast on the shaft 2| suitably spaced sprockets 23 and 24. Likewise, the vshaft 22 carries fast thereon vsimilar sprockets 25 and 26.l The sprockets 23 and 25 are joined by an endless conveyor chain 21, and the sprockets'Ziand 26 are connected by'a similar endless aecaeio conveyor chain 2d. Both of the conveyor chains extend spacedly lengthwise of the table top i8' and register with longitudinal `slots 29 and 30 in the table top. At twelve inch intervals on the conveyor chains are projecting pins 3| for the purpose oiengaging and propelling packages along the extent of the table top, the pins 3| on the upper flights of the chains 2l projecting through said slots 253 and 3@ and somewhat above the table top it. The transverse shaft 22 carries fast thereon an additional sprocket 32 engaged by an endless chain 33. Conveyor driving power is transmitted to the shaft 22 through the `chain 33 and sprocket :i2 through connections which will hereinafter be explained.k

The incoming end of the table i8 (the end at the left in Figs. 1 and 2) is augmented by suitably supported removable side wings 34 and 35. For convenience of illustration the extensions 3&5 and 35 have been omitted from Fig. 2. Although the invention is not to be limited specifically thereto, the present embodiment is adapted for the purpose of wrapping packages of stencils. The machine operator assumes a position beyond the incoming end of, the machine and can conveniently engage and operate with his foot the treadle end 35 of a lower pivotally mountedoperating lever 31. vA stack of properly shaped pre-cut wrappers 38 is disposed on the table wing 34 and a stack of stencils 39, a suitable number of which are to be successively wrapped by singie wrappers, are positioned on the table Wing or extension 35. The initial or incoming operating station is at the left hand end of the table topv between the extension wings 34 and 35. The

operator, with his hands, disposes'a wrapper 38 in a proper position on the table, said incoming station being designated 40. Each wrapperV is of a type wherein one surface thereof is coatedY with wax and in disposing the cut wrapper on the station 40 the wax covered surface should be uppermost. On the at wrapper so disposed a suitable Dile of stencils 39 or other uniform objects to be wrapped is disposed centrally on the wrapper and then the front ap 38a of the wrapper is manually folded over onto the top of the stencil stack, the fold being accomplished along the line 4|. Next the rear flap 38h is manually folded over onto the rst folded flap 38a, providing an overlapped longitudinal wrapper seam as shown in Fig. 11 and a likewise shown at the station 40 in Fig. 1. The package, as thus manually prepared, overlies certain extents of the upper nights of the conveyor chains 21 and 28 and is properly located by being alined against ing its forward longitudinal edge in abutment with a pair of pins 3| on the conveyor chains.

Suitably vertically movablycarried above the table top i8 by a pair of spaced side rails 42 are a. series of `transverse operating station carrying elements. The rst operating station beyond the incoming station 40 is a wrapper seam spot sealing station designated generally by the numeral 43. Ata suitable .interval beyond the station 43 is a full seaniing station 44. The fol- .lowing station, designated 45. is a topl end flap sealing and tape applying station.A Toward the discharge end of the table I8 is a total end flap sealing station 45. However, between the stations 45 and 46 are suitably spaced flapA folding channels 41 which, during the travel of a package from station 45 to station 45, cause the extended lower end flaps to be folded over onto the top portions of@ ends of the package to per- 20 able side rails 42.

75 top portions of the Wrapper along several transanism designated generally by the numeral fili.

Said scissors mechanism is forthe purpose oi cutting a tape or ribbon 49, which has been applied to one end of the sealed package, into a suitable length, whereby ultimately an extended end of the ribbon length sealed into the package may be grasped and pulled for the purpose of opening the package.` Beyond the station 46 and scissors mechanism 48 the table top forms a discharge station 5D where the fully wrapped and l5 sealed packages are successively delivered and 'are subsequently removed therefrom.

The instrumentalities at the spot sealing station 43 are carried by a transverse elevated bar 5| having its ends secured to the vertically mov- Depended from the lower face of the bar 5| are a pair of spaced heating irons 52 at right angles to the bar 5| and spaced so as to engage top portions of a wrapper 38 as applied to a package at the station .40, said irons at station 43 extending across the top wrapper seam. Said irons 52 are of conventional structure including heating elements therein which are energized by electricity supplied through Wires 53. Suitably mounted on the top portion oi the bar 5| are a terminal box 54 and a standard adjustable thermostat 55 which controls the temperature of the heating irons 52. The heating irons 52 are vertically adjustable by virtue ol threaded bolts 56 on which they are mounted and one of the irons 52 is longitudinally adjustable on the bar 53 by virtue of slots 5l in said bar through which the bolts 55 are clampmly and adjustably extended. The vertical adjustments of the irons adapt the station for packages of different thicknesses, while the longitudinal adjustment ofone of the irons 52 adapts the station 53 for the reception of packages of l diierent lengths, within certain limitations.

Hereinafter will be explained the manner in which 'the intermittent movement of the conveyor chains 21 and 28 is controlled. Likewise at'A this point it should be stated that when the conveyor is moving to advance packages from one station to another, the side rails 42 carrying the various station mechanisms is elevated 'so that the mechanisms carried by the station bars will not contact the moving packages. However, when a package reaches an advanced station and an operation at that station is desired,

l the control and operating mechanism, to be later a' raised side edge of the wing 34 and by havexplained, lowers the side slats 42 so that the variousv station bars aillxed thereto are likewise lowered toward the table top, causing the stationed mechanisms on the bars t0 forcefully con- 60 tact the top surfaces of the packages.

folded condition until the wrapper applied package reaches the station 43 and is engaged by the lowered irons 52. To protect the operators hand from possible accidental contact with the heatingirons 52, spaced flared wings 58 are attached to and extend from the underside of the bar 5|. At this point it may be stated that when a package is delivered to station 43 and is engaged by the heating irons 52, said ironsbecome effective to melt the wax on the overlapped folders 41.

l verse lines as indicated at'59 in Fig.12.

operation is effective to hold the wrapper yin the folded condition of Fig. 12 for the convenient performance of the subsequent operations.

The station 44 likewise includes a raised transverse bar 60 from which is vertically adjustably depended by bolts 6|, an elongated heating iron 62 which spacedly underlies the bar 60 and which is adapted to register with the top longitudinal seam in the package wrapper and to heat the wax along said seam as at 63 in Fig. 13 and to cause fulladhesion of the overlapped top iiaps of the package wrapper. The temperature of the iron 62 is controlled by an adjustable thermostat 64 mounted on the top portion of the bar It should be noted that the pre-cut wrappers 38 are so shaped that after theflap 38a is folded over onto the top of the package and is overlapped by the complementary top f iap 38h, bottom end flaps project somewhat beyond the top end flaps. The following station 45 is for the purpose of sealing onto the extended bottom end flaps the narrow extents of the top end flaps and at the same time for applying under one of the top end iiaps so sealed an extent of package opening tape or ribbon 49. The station 45 includes an elevated transverse bar 64 carried by the side rails 42. vExtending 'from one side of the table I8 slightly below the top surface thereof and alined with the bar 64, is a spool stud 65 on which is revolubly mounted a spool 66 having wound thereon a suitable supply of ribbon or' tape 49. Free movement of the spool 66 is retarded by a vspring 61 o n the stud 65 and bearing against the spool. An extent of tape or ribbon from the .spool 66 is threaded through an apertured guide clip 68 mounted on the same side of the table I8 rearwardly of the spool and rearwardly of the station 45. The clip 88 and extent of tape extended forwardly therefrom, longitudinally of the table top I8, is arranged so that as-a package advances from station 44 to station 45 the tape will be threaded between the top and bottom end flaps at one end fof the package. At the station 45, when the mechanism carrying bar 64 is lowered, transverse heatingl irons 69 .register with and engage only the top end flaps of the package. The heat and pressure effected by the irons 69, when the same are engaged with the package, are effective to melt the wax so as to seal the top end flaps down onto the longer lower end flaps, as indicated at inA Fig. 14. This operation also serves to seal into one' end of the package an extent of the tape or ribbon 49. The irons 68 are slightly longer than the transverse dimension'of the package. Both of the irons 68 are vertically adjustable on studs l '1| while one of theV irons is longitudinally adjustable'relative to the bar 64` by virtue of slots 12 in the bar 64 and through which one pair of studs 1| pass. The heating irons- 68 are controlled by-regulatable thermostats 13 which are electrically, connected with terminal boxes 14 with suitable connections being made to the irons.

As' was previously mentioned, the tabletop I8, along opposite sides thereof and between the stations'4'5 and 46, carries apair of end ap Each folder 41 is of curved formation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is outwardly inclined and enlarged toward the station 45. As

a package [is being propelled by the conveyor A from station 45 to station 46, the extended lower end flaps enter the enlarged ared ends of the folders 41 and as these folders are tapered and directed toward the discharge end of the machine, and as they havey curved walls which are progressively restricted, the same function to 5 engage the extended lower end flaps and to fold the same over onto the top end portions4 of the package wrapper with the result that when a package reaches station 46 the lower end flaps have been folded over onto the top end portions l0 of the package. e

At station 46 it becomes desirable to seal the folded over end fiaps of the package. 'I'his is accomplished by heating irons 16 which are depended from end portions of a station bar 11, 15 at right angles to said bar, it being noted that the bar 11 is carried above the table top by the side slats. 42. Both heating irons 16 are vertically. adjustably carried by threaded studs 18 and one ofthe irons 16 is longitudinally adjustable on the bar 11 by means of slots 19 throughl which one pair of studs 18 clampingly extend. The irons 16 are controlled by an adjustable thermostat 80 mounted on the bar 11 and said bar also carries terminal boxes 8|. The terminal boxes have circuit wire connections 82 with the irons 16 and are also suitably electrically connected with the thermostat 80.

Conveniently mounted on transverse bars carried by the side slats 42 is an electrical fuse box 83 from which cables to the various thermostats and terminal boxes at the stations extend. A main power line cable 84 enters the fuse box. lThis power line cable connects with a manually operatedswitch box 85 at the inlet end of the table I8 and from the switch box there is a cable, as is customary, which connects with a source of electrical energy.

All of the moving parts of the machine receive their power from an electric motor 86 mounted on a lower base portion of the table I8. The

motor is controlled, through a cable 81, by a con-Q, veniently located switch 88, the latter being con-' nected with a source of electrical energy by wires (not shown). Integral with the motor 86 is a speed reduction transmission 89 having an outwardly projecting driven shaft 90 carrying fast /thereon a. sprocket 9|. Said sprocket is engaged .f byda short endless chain 92 which also engages l a sprocket 93 mounted fast on the continuously driven portion of a lower, transverse, clutch controlled shaft 94. On the opposite end portion of said shaft 94 (the clutch controlled portion) there is mounted a sprocket 95 engaged by one end portion of an endless chain 96,

- vis integral with the other end portion of said sleeve. The sprocket |00 is engaged by the chain ,65. 96, and the sprocket I0| isengaged by thevchain 33 previously referred to. Fast on an intermediate portion Vof the shaft 91. is.' still another sprocket |03 engaged by one end portionof an endless chain |04.

The other pair of intermediate table legs 20' ha`s extended therebetween a revoluble upper transi verse shaft |05 which'overlies the shaft-94 and carriesflongitudinally alined with the sprocket |03, a similar sprocket |06 also drivingly engaged bythe chain |04. The shaft |05 toward the end Revolubly extended transversely between interl by the upper outer portions of the other intermediate legs 20. The arms H2 and H3 are simi lai` and are vertically actuated by adjacent cam wheels and are also connected with the longitudinal side rails 42. Structural details are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and the arrangement of only one of said arms will be described. an arm H2 (or H3) has its lower endbifurcated u to receive a stud on which a cam roller ||4 is mounted. A laterally projecting pin H5 from a leg extends through a slot H6 in an arm, while at the upper end of an arm a pin ||1.ex tends through a vertical slot H8 in the leg 20 and is secured to the rail 42. Hence, both side rails 42, which carry all of the station bars 44, 45 and 46, are fast with the upper ends of the movable arms H2 and ||3. Also said arms ||2 and I |3 are mounted to reciprocate vertically on the legs 20, the same being elevated when the cam rollers ||4 ride on the normal peripheral portions of the cam wheels |08 and H0, and being lowered when the cam rollers .drop into the recesses |09 and in said camwheels.

The operating lever 31 previously mentioned has its inner end pivotally mounted onan inner; transverse, lower rod, as at H9. Intermediate portions of said lever have pivotally attached thereto by means of clevices, vertical operating rods |20 and.|2|. Downward movement of the outer end of said lever 31 is against the force of a coiled spring |22.

When the switch 88 for the motor 86 is turned on the portion ofthe shaft 94 which carries the sprocket 93 will be constantly revolved. Revolution of mechanism on the other portion of said shaft will depend upon whether or not a clutch, designated generally by the numeral |23, is engaged, said clutch being interposed in the shaft 84 A certain degree of foot pressureon the treadle portion 36 of the lever 31, will, because of the downward swing of said lever, pull downwardly on the vertical rod |20'. A curved ratchet arm 204 has one end'pivotally connected to the upper end of said rod |20 and a depending lug 205 at the outer end of said ratchet arm will be swung so as to engage a tooth on the ratchet wheel |01. Then, further downward pressure of the lever 31 will actuate said ratchet arm to cause it to turn the wheel `|01 in a counterclockwisedirection (relative to Figs. 4 and 5) a desired distance. The movement 'of said ratchet wheel, which is fast on the shaft |05, causes a turning movement of said shaft suiiicient to turn the cam wheels |08, also fast on said shaft, a

, distance to disengage the rollers H4 from the cam wheel recesses |09. `It will be noted that` through the sprockets |06 and |03, and the chain |04, the other upper transverse shaft 31 will be turned a similar distance in the same direction to lift\ the rollers on the arms H3 free ofthe cam wheel recesses H whereby the four arms H2 and H3 are simultaneously reciprocated up'- wardly. This movement of the shaft" does aseasio not affect the shaft 22 with which it is connected because the shaft pin 98 rides in the lost mow tion sleeve slot 99 (see Figs. 7 and 1Q). By view tue ofthe elevation of the arms H2 and tt. the side rails 42 and all of the-station bars and elements carried thereby are elevated. serves to remove the various sealing irons from wrapped packages at the various stations and during this period of elevation of the station instrumentallties it is, proposed that the conveyor 21-28 be steppedly advanced (a distance of twelve inches in the exemplication shown) to move the packages tothe next advanced stations.

During the operation last described the clutch |23 remains disengaged. Said clutch includes a toothed disc |24 fast on the shaft @t and a complementary toothed clutch spool E25 loose on said shaft. 'I'he clutch spool |25 has a reduced or recessed sleeve portion |26 and an outer head formed with an axially extending lug |39. There is also loose on the shaft a disc |2'l (see Fig. 3l having aside recess entered by the lug its, whereby the discs |25 and |21 will turn together. A coiled spring |43 is interposed between the outer head of the spool |25 and disc I2? and urges the same apart, but never to an extent to 'cause full withdrawal of the lug |29 from the recess of the disc |21. The latter disc has inte gral outwardly extending sleeve portions itt surrounding the shaft 94 and with which the sprocket is integral. A spring urged plunger |28 is adapted to ridein the recess of the spool |25. The plunger |28, which has an upper portion guided through supporting lugs |28 and i3d, is actuated by an intermediately pivoted fulcrum arm |3| whose outer end is slidably confined on the upper end -portion of the vertical rod |2 The arrangement is such that initial downward movement of the lever 31 does not rock the arm |3|, but upon additional downward movee ment of said lever 31 the rod |2l will move downwardly in the outer end of the fulcrum arm until the nuts |32 engage said fulcrum arm, whereupon the latter will move from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5, lifting the plunger |28 from its clutch sleeve recess engaging position.

When the clutch elements |24 and |25 are disengaged the plunger |28 is in its lowered position and abuts a beveled shoulder |33 on a face portion of the spool 25. Also, a vertically reciprocating bottom pin |34 is lodged within a reduced portion of the spool recess |26. Said pin |34 is mounted in a cylinder |35 upstanding from the lever 31 and carries a transverse pin |36 extending through a vertical slot |31' in the cylindrical wall engaged by a confined coiled spring |38. 'I'he result is that movements of the lever'31 impart reciprocating delayed action movements to the pin |34.

y During the operation of the mechanism to cause disengagement of the clutch elements 24 and |26 the bottom pin |34 engages a local shoulder within the spool recess |26 and moves the clutch element |25 only sufficiently far from the clutch element |24 so that the teeth on said complementary clutch elements are lout of engagement. At this time, the plunger |28 is riding on a narrowed face portion of the shoulder |33 in spool 25 and then rides onto a wider portion ofthe shoulder to force clutch element |25 further from clutch `element |24. Temporary locking of the complementary clutch elements in this separated position-is accomplished by aY cylinder |4|, said wedge dropping into a transverse slot |42 therefor in the spool |25.

With the arms ||2 and ||3 raised, whereby the station instrumentalities are out of engagement with the packages, it immediately becomes desirable to next engage the clutch to establish the drive to the conveyor chains 21V and 28 delayed vaction arrangements and cause the lever 31 to move fulcrum |3| and pin |34, withdrawing the same from the spool |25. Thereupon, the spring |43 becomes effective to shift.

the spool to theright, relative to Fig. 3, to

engage its ,teeth with the teeth of the complementary clutch disc 24.

Asv previously mentioned, the lug |39 does not-move entirely free of the recess therefor in disc |21 so that the drive from the shaft 94 is established to the` sprocket 95, through the chain 96 to the shaft 91, and from there to the conveyor shaft 22, whereby the conveyor chains 21 and 28 are driven.

The clutch elements |24 and |25 will remain engaged only for one complete revolution ofthe sprocket 93 on .shaft 94' and this is commensurate with the distance between two adjacent stations traveled by the conveyor. This is accomplished because after the clutch elements are engaged and the conveyor moved, the operator releases the pressure from the lever 31, a1- lowing it to li'ft to its original position. Thereupon, the clutch operating plunger |28, the p in |34, and the wedge |40 return from their retracted positions and engage the clutch spool to separate it from the clutch disc |24.

The ratchet arm 204, connected to and operated by the rod |20 is also carried by a plate |45 whose inner end is pivotally mounted on the shaft |05. The outer end of the plate is yieldingly supported by an adjustable hanger |46 pivotally depended from the under surface of the table top |8. A lower extension portion of the hanger |45 is slidably extended through an extension from the plate |45 and carries a conned, compressible coiled spring |41. Following a depression of the rod |20 to cause the ratchet arm 204 to engage.

and turn the ratchet wheel |01 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5, the plate |45 also having been swung downwardly, there willbe compression of the spring |41. Thereafter, when the lever 31 is released and rises, the upward movement of the rod |20 together with the expansive force of the spring |41 will return the plate |45 and ratchet arm- 204 to the original position of Fig: 4, ready to take a new bite on the ratchet wheel |01 for the next turning movement thereof. Ithasv previously been mentioned that a tape ror ribbon cutting scissors mechanism 48 is operatively mounted beyond the flnal sealing station '45. This scissors mechanism'is best shown lin.

Figs. 1, 8 and 9 and includes an elongated supporting `ilat |48 having its inner end pivotally attached. to a depending extension |50 on an innerside'portion of a leg 20, being angled away from the leg toward the discharge endl olffthe clevice |49 depended from the transverse bar 11. The forward extremity of the slat has pivotally attached thereto the upper end of a link |5| whose lower end portion is pivotally attached to the outer end of an upper scissors blade |52. The forward end of the Slat |48 also carries one end of a strap |53 whose other end has pivotally attached thereto one end of a link -|54. The other end of said link pivotally carries the inner end of a lower scissors blade |55, to an intermediate portion of which is pivoted-the upper scissors blade |52. Itwill thus be seen that both of the scissors blades are indirectly connected with and carried by the vertically reciprocable arm ||3 through suitable linkages and hence the scissors mechanism is automatically operated through raising and lowering movements of ,the arm ||3. When the arm ||3 rises the scissors blades are automatically opened up, as in Fig. 9,

there being a recess' |56 to accommodate the lowered blade. When the varm ||3 drops the scissors blades close, as in Fig. 8, shipping the tape 49 passing therebetween.

The operation of the improved package wrapping machine should be obvious from the description of the various parts thereof. However, to recapitulate, let it be understood that the switches and 88 should both be turned on, when the machine is to be used, so that electricity will y flow to the electric motor 86 and to the thermostatically controlled heating and sealing. irons at the various stations. The shaft 84 will then be constantly driven from the motor. The wings 34 and 35 of the incoming end of the table top |8 are supplied with piles of pre-cut wrappers 38 and stencils or other objects to be wrapped 39 respectively. On the station 40 the operator prepares each package, with a wrapper thereabout, as previously described. `It is of course assumed that the machine is being operated for the delivery of a succession of Wrapped packages so that there will be packages, at various stages of completion, at each of the stations. The operator next depresses the treadle portion 36 on the leverl 31 slightly and this is effective to cause movement of the cam wheels |08 and ||0 to project the arms ||2 and ||3 upwardly, raising the longitudinal upper side rails 42 and all of the transverse bars and station mechanisms carried thereby. Thereupon, with further depression of the treadle portion of the lever 31. the complementary parts of the' clutch |23 will engage to"eil`ect driving of the sprocket and through the various chains and sprockets previously' described this'power will be transmitted tothe shaft 22 whereby the conveyor chains 21 and 28 will move so as to advance each package one station. Upon release of the pressure on the lever 81 the side arms ||2 and ||3 will drop into the recessesv in the cam wheels |08 and |09,

lowering the longitudinal rails 42 and transverse "and at station 46 said folded over bottom end machine. An intermediate portion of said slat 7 y flaps are sealed. down to fully close the package. Between station 48 and the discharge ltation 50 on the table top, the tape and package end passes through the scissors mechanism i8 to effect snipping of the ribbon or tape, with the completed package being delivered at station G for removal. Successive operations are performed by the previously described manipulations of the control lever 3l. l

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved package wrapping machine performs a number of successive operations relative to a wrapped package of commodities, is automatic and expeditious in its operation, requires only a single operator, and is well adapted for the purposes described. i

What is Vclaimed as the invention is:

l. A package wrapping machine comprising, a

table having an elongated at top, a super structure spanning said top and vertically, reciprocably mounted on portions of the table, a package conveyor movable along said table top` clutch controlled means for steppedly advancing the conveyor, means including revoluble cams for reciprocating the super structure, a motor operatively connected with both the conveyor-advancing means and the reciprocating means for operating the same, and a single lever controlling operation of the conveyor advancing means and the reciprocating means at proper intervals and in a desired sequence, the conveyor advancing means lincluding a delayed action mechanism.

, 2. A package wrapping machine comprising, a table having an elongated ilat top, a package conveyor movable along said top in a rectilineal path, a bridge extending substantially lengthwise of and spanning said top and including spaced, transverse carriers, wrapper flap electric sealing irons depended from said carriers, means vertically movablyv mounting the bridge on the table, means for steppedly advancing the conveyor to carry wrapped packages beneath said carriers, means for lowering and raising the bridge between stepped movements of the con-'- veyor, the sealing irons contacting portions of the package wrappers when the bridge is low` ered, and means carried by the table between certain of saidv carriers' for folding some of the package; wrapper aps during packages in a rectilineal path.

aacasic stepped movements of the conveyor, the sealing y irons contacting portions of the package wrappers when the bridge is lowered, and. means carried by the table for applying lengths of ribbon to and sealing the same within end portions ci wrapped packages passing thereadjacent.

v4. A package wrapping machine comprising, a table having an elongated flat top, a bridge spanning said top and including spaced, transverse carriers, wrapper flap electric sealing irons v depended from said carriers, means vertically movably mounting the bridge on the table, means forsteppedly advancing the conveyor to carry wrapped packages beneath said carriers, means for lowering and raising the bridge between stepped movements of the conveyor, the sealing irons contacting portions of the package wrappers when the bridge is lowered, means carried by the table between certain of said carriers for folding some of the package wrapper flaps, means carried by the table for applying lengths of ribbon to and sealing the same within end portions of wrapped packages passing thereadjacent, and a scissors mechanism associated with the vertically movable bridge for cutting the lengths of ribbon sealed within the packages, said scissors mechanism being automatically operated by movements of the bridge.

-5. A package'wrapping machine comprising a table having a top, a super structure spanning said top and vertically, reciprocably mounted on portions of the table, a package conveyor movable along said table top, means for steppedly' advancing the conveyor, means for reciprocating the super structure, and control means for the conveyor advancing means and the reciprocatv ing means, the conveyor advancing means intravel of wrapped f cluding a delayed action mechanism.

CLAUDE E. HINCHEY. 

